DAVE Prins is ready to break his Lakeside hoodoo and finally feature beyond the BDO World Championship’s first round.

The Badger” has fallen at the last-32 stage in all of his four appearances at Frimley Green but as he travels down to Surrey today optimism is high within the Blackhall thrower’s camp that he can at last put an end to his curse.

Prins is involved in a preliminary round on Monday evening against Dutchman Jeroen Geerdink, whose best result came six months ago at the Swiss Open when he was knocked out in the last-16.

The winner of the match plays Jim Williams in the first round proper on Tuesday.

A qualifier via the Hull qualifying rounds in the autumn, Prins isn’t even contemplating not taking to the oche on Tuesday.

“When, not if, I play on the Tuesday I’ll be feeling good,” he told SportMail.

“I’m playing the Monday night, hopefully the Tuesday against Jim Williams and then, touch wood, Wednesday night so it will be all go.”

Prins believes watching the preceding three days’ action before he takes to the stage, by which time Hartlepool’s aces Paul Jennings and Tony Eccles could be into the last-16, can help settle his nerves.

Honest in his assessment of his previous four failings, the Horden Comrades left-hander says his mind will be focused and at ease on this occasion.

He added: “I’m more relaxed now.

“The prelims will help me confidence-wise.

“I’ve got to get the first game over with and then move onto the next one.

“I’ve just got to get comfortable on the Lakeside stage.

“I think waiting until the

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Monday to play will help me because I can go there, chill out and have a good practise.

“I think with the prelims being best of 5 sets that’s spot on because it accustoms you to the stage.”

Although his 2013 record on the BDO circuit doesn’t flatten the 45-year-old, he prefers not to use history as an indicator of his chances.

“To me, I can beat anyone on my day,” he declared.

“I’ve beat everyone on that floor in the past and my darts are going well right now.

“I’m not frightened of anyone.

“Last year, versus Richie George, I had seven darts to beat him 3-1 but I got beat on the deciding leg.

“That was my best performance on that stage.

“I don’t know much about him (Geerdink) but the Dutch are all right players.

“I would love to be world champion, any darts player says that.”

Jennings, a quarter-finalist for the last two years, makes his third Lakeside appearance.

The Headlander takes on highly-rated Netherlands star Wesley Harmes this afternoon in the first round.

Eccles is matched with Stockport’s Darryl Fitton in the first round on Monday night.